Incubator



F. E. STOVER Sept. 12, 1933.

INCUBATOR Filed June 20, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet l &

Gurney Sept. 12, 1933. STQVER 1,926,464

INCUBATOR Filed June 20, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y FRANK E. sro ER, 9 M-IMWW Arzolmrvs Sept. 12, 1933.

F. E. STOVER INCUBATOR Filed June 20; 1929'. 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Fmmx as???Arron/xv:

Patented S ept. 12,1933

ATENT orrics INCUBATOR Frank E. Stover, Springfield, Ohio I IApplication .l'uneZO, 1929. Serial Ne. 372,255

My invention relates to incubators. It is an object of my inve'" "ion toprovide an incubator in which the will be drawn over the traysuniformly. v r g It is a further object of my invention to provide forthe drawing of air over the trays and the discharging of it to theoutside air so that there will be no recirculation of air which willcarry disease.

It is a further object to provide means for separately controlling inthe same compartments the hatching and incubating stages and forproviding for recirculation within-the same come partmentsor for intakeand direct ejection ofv air at the pleasure of the operator.

In particular, it is an object of my invention to provide meansforcirculating the air so arranged as to apply the centrifugal rimforceover the face of the wheel to thereby equalize the temperaturethroughout the compartment,

It is a further object to draw the air through the trays containingtheeggs and thence to the to the front of the trays around the sides ofthe trays, thereby completely enveloping" the stacks of trays. This isparticularly necessary for the incubation period. '1

' for the evacuation of all 7 1, showing the sliding doors;

It object to provide means for, simply adjusting the incubator duringthehatching pe} 'riod to'prevent'the recirculation of air and to opendirect communication with the outside air down and foul air out theincubator building. p

It is a further object to provide a conditioning compartment throughwhich the new heated air may be. directed or delivered to the front ofthe trays through which'it is drawn by the air recirculating means andejected from the'incueater. p I f It is a further obj ct to providemeans for the cutting off of this compartmentirom the tray chamber whenrecirculating during the incuba* tion period. l 3 v Referring to thedrawings: a Figure l is a section through the, incubator showing theuse-oi pipes 13 being omitted from this figure; .7 i

, Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

showing the arrangement of trays and the slid- V doors;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig.

1, showing front partition; Figure 5 is a detail section through the fanand sliding partition;

Figure 6 is a detail section through the hatchelevation of the fan andthe ing traysand deflecting plates; K Figure 7 is a section on the line7-7 of Figure 1 showing the arrangement of baffles. I

glesto theincoming line of flow of air.-

zsolaims, (01. 119-45) Referring to thedrawings in detail,,I provide acabinet having a bottom 1, side walls 2 and 3 and rear wall 4; and afront wall 5; 6 desigthe top of the'cabinet. This cabinet isprovidedwith tray compartments '7 and 8 between which is located an airconditioning cornpartment 9', which is supplied with outside air throughthe ventilators 10. The compartments '7 and 8 areseparatediromtheconditioning'com partment 9 by a, plurality of overlapping sliding glassdoors 11.

Over the top ofthe cabinetjare' formed hcrizontal chambers 12. .Inthese'chambers are located the heating pipes 13, the power'shafts 14 andthe thermostat control rods ,15. At either end vertical passageways orchambers 16 areprovided for housing certain thermostatic controls fordampers; In the air inlets 54 in the vertical walls of. the passageways'16 there is a damper 17 and air inlet trap door 18 and a control damper60a; A A motor 19 drivesthroug'h a suitable clutch 20 the operatingshaft 14 which in -turn through thebevelgears 21' and 22 operates thehorizontal fan operating shaft 23, which in turn through the bevel gears2 4.and 25 operates the fanfshaft- 26.

This fan is comprised of a hub Zionwhich are mounted aplurality ofblades 28, whose races are in line. with the axis of the shaft 26and arein line with the direction of the air flow.

7 These blades 28 have formed between them in spacedrelationshipiconcentric diagonal rings 29 and30 which are generallydisposed at right anthe free ends of the blades 28 and suitablyattachedthereto aretriangularly shaped plates 31 which likewise aredisposed atright angles to the incoming line of how of air.

In operation; as theian wheel revolves the air is equally'distributedover the stack of hatching "trays 3 2 bythesucticn of the fan wheel. In-

sageway 3e." and another portion passes out through the passageway 35,throwing rim force or suction over the peripheralface of the wheel at a.given point. V V Y Thus]: am enabled to get an equal draft or suction bymy fan wheel the delivery from the fan being'radial. The air is'discharged at the tips of the fan blades 28 and either passes back alongthe sides of the stack of, traysjas at 36, and

thence from the back of the trays into passageway 3'? over the traysagain, or it'may bedirectly discharged outwardly through one or moreexit passageways 33. j c

Over 1 This depends upon the position of the sliding frame 39 which isrectangular in shape, slides within the casing and may engage on inneredge the fan frame 40 whichis stationary.

This frame 39 is moved through the lever 41, connecting bar 42, bellcranks 43 mounted 01140 and the push rods 4% connecting the bell cranksto the frame 39. The interior of the frame 39 which is right angular insectionis provided: with a curved baffle wall 46. The'fan frame 40 issupported from the ends 2 or 3 by the position rods 4'7. 7 a J The traysare carried on the usual uprights 48 having ledges 49 for supporting thetrays 32 with their perforated bottom of wire netting 32a. Betweenadjacent trays is a slidable metal plate 50.

The sliding air deflecting frame 39 has connected wit a link 51 whichcontrols two slides 52 and 53 which in turn controlthe openings 54' and55 from the heating chamber 12 to a tray compartment'or the airconditioning compartnientrespectively. These slides are so arranged thatonly one of the openings will be open at a time while the other will beclosed.

Hence when the slide 39 is in position to cause recirculation of air,the heated air will be drawn directlyintothe tray compartment back ofthe wheel, while if the air is being ejected from the tray compartmentdirectlyto the outside then the heated air will be drawn in from theconditioning compartment over the trays and thence make its exit outthrough the passageway '38 to the outside atmosphere. Theheated air isdrawn infrcm the passageway 16 by the fan wheel to heat the eggcompartment.

In this passageway 16 the damper 17 is con trolled through the link 56and the link 57, which latter link is pivoted at 58. When the slide 39is in its recirculating position this damper is closed while when theslide is in its air ejecting position this damper is open. v a

The trap doors 18 are thermostatically controlled by the finger 59attached-to the damper 60a which is actuated by thelink 60, thermostatrod 15' and thermostat 61, which is located in each of the traycompartments, thus giving'independent air inlet depending upon the.temperature of the compartment. The temperature is controlled by thedamper 60a.

Method of operation 7 In operation, if the eg Sare being incubated, theair will be recirculated and the parts will be in position as shown inthe traycompartment at the left hand side of Fig. 1. Air will be drawnout of the egg compartment through the-opening 5 iin the chamber 12,reheated and drawn down the chamber 16 to the opening into the eggcompart ment at the centerof the fan '-.vheel..

If the compartment becomes too hot, the thermostat 61 will close thedamper 60 and if the compartment temperature should rise a fraction of adegreeit will causethe finger- 5,9 to open the damper 18 allowing theinduction 'of fresh When the eggs are hatching'as in the right hand traycompartment, then the air can be taken in from the conditioningcompartment, with any fresh air introduced through'the openings 10, asthe doors 11' will be opened; "The heated air enters through the opening55' into the conditioning compartment. The air is drawn through thetrays and discharged radially-into, the exit passageway 38.

Inhatching position, the damper 17 is open which closes the duct 16 sothat the air cannot get to the fan wheel,'but is drawn up into theheater tunnel and down into the condition compartment through theopening 55 of the tray chamber. If the air is too warm the thermostat 61will close the damper 60a causing more cold air to be drawn in throughthe damper 10 shown in the drawing.

Baiiies 62 may be employed to direct the air longitudinally of thetrays. up the revolving air currents caused by the rotation of the fanwheel. Thus, the air directed longitudinally of the trays isequallydistributed and the temperature is uniform. The centrifugal force on theair due to the action of the fan wheel is converted into linearmotion ofthe air.

It will be understood that I desire to compre- These baiiies break.

hend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adaptit to'varying conditions an air heating chamber above said compartments,

means forming a communication between said compartments and theheatingchamber, means for controlling the introduction of the heated air intosaid conditioning compartment and tray compartment, and means forinducing the flow of cold air into said tray compartment.

3. -In au'rincubator, a cabinet having an air conditioning compartment,tray compartments having communication with the air conditioningcompartment, means adjustable for communication for completelyseparating and sealing said compartments from one another, air heatingchambers adapted to communicate with either a tray compartment or theconditioning compartment, there being a heating chamber for each traycompartment.

.having communication with the air conditioning compartment, meansadjustable for communication for completely separating and sealing saidcompartments from one another, air heating chambers adapted tocommunicate with either I a tray compartment or the conditioningcompartment, there being a heating chamber for each tray compartment,means for moving the air in 'said tray compartments and means fordetermining whether. the air will circulate ineachtray compartmenu meansfor moving the llx with the last said means for determining Whether airin said tray compartments, means for determining whether the air willcirculate" in said tray compartments or be drawn through and ejected tothe outside atmosphere and means connected with the last said means fordetermin ing Whether the heated air from the heating chamber will bedelivered to the air conditioning compartment or the tray compartment.

6. In an incubator, a cabinet having an air conditioning compartment,tray compartments, air heating chambers adapted to communicate witheither a tray compartment or the conditioning compartment, there being aheating chamber for each tray compartment, means for moving the air insaid tray compartments, means for determining whether the airwill'circulate' in said tray compartments-or be drawn through andejected to the outside atmosphere, means connected with the last said'means for determining whether the heated air from the heating chamberwill be delivered to the air conditioning compartment or the traycompartment and sliding closure means adapted to eithercompletelyseparate or establish communications between the-conditioningcompartment and a tray compartment. i h

"7. In an incubator; acabinet having an air conditioning compartment,tray compartments having-communication with the air conditioningcompartment, means adjustable forcommunication for completely separatingand sealing said compartments from one another, air. "heating chambersadapted to communicate with either a tray compartment or theconditioning compartment, there being a heating chamber for each traycompartment, lneans for moving the air in said tray compartments'meansfor determining whether the air will circulate in said tray compartmentsor be drawn through and ejected to the outside atmosphere, meansconnected with the last said means for determining whether the heatedair from the-heating compartment will be delivered to the airconditioning compartment or the tray compartment, air inletv means tosaid heating compartments and thermostatic means located in each traycompartment for controlling the opening and closing of said air inletmeans.

8. In an incubator, a cabinet having an air conditioning compartment;tray compartments the heatedair fronrthe heating compartment will bedelivered to the air conditioning chamber or the tray compartment, airinlet meansto said heating compartments, thermostatic means located'ineach tray chamberfor controlling-the. opening and closing of said airinletmeans, ad-

ditional air inlet means in said heating compartments and meanscontrolling said air inlet means I connected to the means forcontrolling the de livery of heated air to either the conditioningcompartment or the tray compartment.

9. In combination, a cabinet having an air outlet, a stack of traystherein, means for introframe.

ducing air to said trays, means for moving the airtherethroughandclosure means for said air outlet surrounding said air moving meansslidably mounted with respect thereto-for determining c whether themoving means will recirculate said air or deliver it" directly throughthe air outlet to the atmosphere after having passed over the traysonce. I i

10; In combination, a cabinet having an air outlet, a stack of traystherein, means for intro: ducing air'to said trays, means for moving theair thercthrough, closure means for said air outlet surrounding said airmoving means slidably mounted with respect thereto for determiningwhether the moving means will recirculate. said air or deliver itdirectly-through the air outlet to theatmosphere after having passedover the to said air vmoving means and said, traysand means on saidframe for moving said slidable' means. 7 v a v '11, In combination, acabinet, a stack of trays and anair inlet on one side thereof, a fan'onthe other side thereof, a stationary frame aroimd said fan to onesidethereof, a slidable frame between the stationary frame and thecabinet adapted to be positioned on one side or the other of said fanand an air exit openingcontrolled thereby leading to the outsideatmosphere.

12. In combination, a cabinet, a stack of trays and an airinlet on oneside thereof, a fan wheel on the other side thereof; a stationary framearound said fan Wheel to one side'therecf, 'a

slidableframe between the stationary frame and the cabinet adapted to bepositioned on one side trays once, a frame rigidly mounted with respector the other of said fan wheel, an air exit opening controlledtherebyleading to the outside atmosphere and means connected to saidsliding frame for controlling the introduction of air into said cabinetl13. In combination, a cabinet having a heating compartment and aconditioning compartment, a stack of trays and an air inlet on one sidethereof, a fan wheel on the other side thereof, a stationary framearound said fan wheel to one side thereof, a slidable frame between thestationary frame and the cabinet adapted to be positioned'on one side orthe other of said fanwheel, an air exit opening controlled therebyleading to the outside atmosphere, means con nected to said slidingframe for controlling the introductionof air into said cabinet andanother means connected to said sliding frame for-controlling remotelythe introduction of air to said heating compartment and conditioningcompartment for supplying air to the'cabinet through the meanscontrolled by said sliding 14. In combination, a cabinet having an ,air

outlet, a stack of trays, a stationary framea fan wheel adjacent saidframe, a moving frame outside of the stationary frame adapted to bepositioned on either side of said fan wheel, a lever pivoted on thestationary frame and link mesh anism connected to the moving framepivoted on the stationary frame for sliding the moving frame within saidcabinet to open or close the air outlet. '15. In an incubator, a fancomprising a shafts plurality of blades disposed parallel to the line offlow and the axis of said shaft, a plurality of plates spaced from oneanother between-said blades disposed at an angle thereto and to the lineof flow of air whereby passageways are formed between said overlappingspaced plates between the blade a stack-of trays mounted parallel tosaidfan, a

compartment enclosing said fan and trays, an air inlet opening into thesaid compartment onth side of the compartment 'awayirom the fan and anoutside air exit opening adjacent the periphery of the fan." f p 16.111an incubator, a fan comprising a shaft, a plurality of blades disposedparallel to the line of flow and the axis of said shaft, a plurality ofplates spaced from one another between said blades disposed at an anglethereto and to the line of low of air whereby passageways are formedbetween said overlapping spaced plates between the blades, a stack oftrays mounted parallel to said fan, a compartment enclosing said fan andtrays, an air inlet, opening into the said compartment on the side ofthe compartment away from the fan, and an outside air es-:it openingadjacent the pe riphery of the fan and means slidable with respect tosaid trays and fan located beyond the periphery of said fan adapted tocontrol said exit opening whereby the position of the slidable meanswill determine whether the air will recirculate in the compartment or beejected to the outside atmosfan, a compartment enclosing said fanandtrays,

an air inlet opening into the said compartment on the side of thecompartment away from the fan,

andan outside air exit opening adjacent the pe- 'riphery or" the fan,means slidable with respect to plates spaced from one another betweensaid blades disposed at an angle thereto and to the line of flow of airwhereby passageways are formed between said overlapping spacedplatesbetween the blades, a stack of trays mounted parallel to said fan,a compartment enclosing said fan and trays, an air inlet opening intothe said compart 'ment on the side ofithe compartment away from the fan,and an outside air exit opening adjacent the periphery of the fan andmeans slidable with respect tosaid trays and fan located beyond theperiphery of said fan adapted to control said exit opening, whereby theposition of the slidable means will determine whether the airwillrecirculate in th compartment or be ejected'to the outside atmosphere,means connected to said slidable meansfor controlling the inlet openinginto said compartment, an air conditioning compartment, slidable meansfor separating the tray compartment and the air conditioningcompartment, an

air inlet opening into the conditioning compartment and means connectedto said slidable means for closing it when the air inlet into the traycompartment is open.

19. In an incubator, a fan comprising a shaft,

a plurality of blades disposed parallel to the line of flow and the axisof said shaft, a plurality of plates spaced from one another betweensaid blades disposed at an angle thereto and to the line of flow of'airwhereby passageways are formed the blades, a stacker trays mountedparallel to said fan, a compartment enclosing said fan and trays, an airinlet opening into the said compartment on the side of the compartmentaway from the fan, and an outside exit opening adjacent the periphery ofthe fan and means slidable with respect to said trays and fan locatedbeyond the periphery of said fan adapted to control said exit opening,whereby the position of the slidable means will determine whether theair will recire between said overlapping spaced plates between.

partment and the air conditioning compartment,

an air inlet opening into the'conditioning compartment, means connectedto said slidable means for closing it when the air inlet into the traycom partment is open, a compartment communicating with said openingshaving heating means therein compartment controlling said air inlet.

20. In an incubator, a cabinet having a conditioning compartment, a pairof tray compartments, air heating chambers means forming acommimication'between said compartments and the air heating chambers,means for controlling theintroductionof heated air into's'aid conditioning compartment and, tray compartments, means for inducing the flow ofcold air into said tray compartments, and means, for determining whichof said compartments the heated air will be de livered to.

21. In an incubator, a cabinet having ,a conditioning compartment, apair of tray compartments, air heating chambers, means forming acommunication between said compartments and the air heating chambers,means for controlling the introduction of heated air into saidconditioning compartment and tray compartments,

and air inlet thereto and'a thermostat in the tray means of inducing theflow of cold air into said tray compartments, and means of determiningwhich of said compartments the heated air will be delivered to, saidmeans for inducing the flow of air into the said tray compartments beingarranged for distribution of air throughout the compartments as it isdrawn through over the trays;

22, In an incubator, a cabinet having a conditioning compartment, a pairof tray compartments, air heatingchambers, means for forming acommunication between said compartments and the air heating chambers,means for controlling the introduction of heated air into saidconditioning compartment and tray compartments, means of inducing theflow of coldair into said tray 1 compartments, means for determiningwhich of said compartments the heated air will be delivered to, saidmeans forinducing the flow of air'into the said tray compartments beingarranged for distribution of air throughout the compartments as it isdrawn through over the trays, and means for determining whether the airin said tray compartments shall be'recirculated or ejected into theoutside atmosphere. I V

FRANK E. STOVER.

